Lighting fixture construction



Dec. 24, 1940. J, Mii-NER ETAL 2,226,252

LIGHTING FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 16, 1939 v 2 SheetS-Shee'fl 1 41d 422i ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1940. J, MIELz'lNER ET ALV 2,226,252

LIGHTING FIXTURE CONSTRCTION Filed Nov. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v -Alm fum wm l l lNvENToRs JO M/ELz/NE/Q JOSEPH Evy ATTORNEY Patented Dee. 24, 1940 YUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .lo Mielziner and Joseph Levy, New York, N. Y.,

assignors to Century Lighting, Inc., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,716

`i Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting fiX- tures or units and more particularly is directed to electric lighting xture and unit constructions for projecting light beams either as' spot or flood light in various selectively desired directions from such unit.

Among the objects of the invention is t0 generally improve lighting `fixture or unit constructions of the character described which shallcomprise few parts of simple construction, particularly when manufactured of molded so-called plastics parts' that are readily assembled to form a structure of attractive and ornamental appearance, which shall be easily adjusted Ifor projecting light beams as spot and Ilo'od light in various desired directions, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and practical and eiiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter 4pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists n the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described and of which the scope `of application will be indicated in the `following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possible illustrative embodiments of thisI invention, i

Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a portable type of light projecting unit or Xture constructed to embody the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken centrally through the unit shown in Fig. 1 to expose the interior construction;

Figs. 3, 4 and 6 are sectional views as seen from lines 3 3, 4 4 and 6 6 in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 7 are fragmentary cross-sectional views corresponding to cuts taken on line 5 5v in Fig. 3 and on line 1 1 in Fig. 6, respectively;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the casing body sections showing said sections in separated position;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective View showing an upper interconnecting body section joint in separated position; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of a lower interconnecting lateral projection or male end stud of the right hand casing body section shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 29 denotes a portable light projecting xture or unit construction embodying the invention adapted to be used for illumination in and about dwelling, show rooms, 5v5 display Windows, and other purposes, particularly to provide spot or flood lighting projected in various desired directions kin the manner hereinafter described.

As shown from Fig. 1 the fixture or unit 20 is provided .with a base 30 adapted to rest on a .5 horizontal support surface S or against any other suitable surface, such as the side walls of a building or mounted on the ,ceiling (not shown) vin the well understood manner. Said base 30 has ad'- justably mounted thereon for universal movement through the construction hereinafter described, a housing in the form of a spherical or globular casing 40 which encloses a source of light, `as for example, an electric incandescent bulb B. Said ycasing 40 has an opening 40a. fitted :i5 with a bezel t5 carrying a lens L as shown in Figs.

1 and 2. The parts of unit 20 such as the base 3i] and housing 40, particularly the 1atterm`ay be molded of the so-called plastics material of such grade that retains its initial physical prop'- 20 erties and appearance even after long and continuous exposure to heat generated by the bulb B of the light source. The use of such plastics material which may be a phenol condensate product such as Bakelite is desirable since it 'can be 25 manufactured economically in quantity production requiring no machining ror surface nishing and therefore provides such molded parts ready of assembly to yform an attractive appearing and ornamental structure. 30

The base 30 may Ibe of any suitable shape' and of sufiicient size to steadily support the unit 20. As seen from Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, said base 30 com# prises a stepped ring member 3"! which has a central `circular opening 3io, the rim flange 32 of 85 which engages with a complementary stepped circular rim 33 of an upstanding coupling rocker clamp member 34.

Said coupling rocker clamp member 34 may be provided with integrally formed spaced jaws or 40 shoes 35 which frictionally engage spaced arcuate shaped tracks 4|a and 42a. which extend'around the substantially hemi-spherical or bowl-shaped body casing sections 4| and 4-2, respectively, of the casting 40. To retain thecouplin'g clamp 45 member 34 in yalign-ment on base ring member 3| so that the same may be rotatably adjusted With respect to said -ring member 3| for swivelling the casing 4D on the base 30, a at ller disc 36 is' provided on the under recessed side ofthe base 30 which is dirmly attached in position byv any suitable means and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 by screws 31. 'Ihering member 3| may also be provided with spaced edge openings`3|c adapted to receive suitable means such asnails or screws (not shown) for positively fastening the unit 20 to the supporting `surface in the well understood manner.

As seen from the drawings the globular casing 40 not only includes the bowl-shaped body sections 4l and 42 but also an arcuate louvre separator 43 which in the assembled casing 40 may be positioned between adjacent channel sides of said tracks 41a and 42a. Said separator 43 as seen from Fig. 2 is formed with spaced outwardly extending radial teeth or fins 43a which not only increase the heat radiating surface, but also serve as an ornamental trimming enhancing the attractive appearance of the unit 20. Said separator 43 also has the opposite lateral sides 43h thereof formed so as to leave tortuous passageways 43C (indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 by dot and dash arrowed lines) which extend along substantially the entire length of the adjacent surfaces of the tracks 4Ia and 42h. Said passageways 43e provide Ventilating means to permit circulation of cooling air, thus communicating the interior of the casing 40 with the exterior thereof, yet forming a barrier to prevent passage of stray light beams therethrough. The louvre separator 43 has its ends 43j and 43e terminating in an upper male end stud or header 4Ib of track 4la and a lower male end stud or header 42h of track 42h, respectively. There may be provided spaced threaded holes 43dl in said separator 43 for receiving screws 44 which pass through aligning openings in the ribs 4 Ic and 42e of the tracks 41a and 42a, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5, to retain body sections 4I and 42 and said separator 43 as a rigid structure forming the casing 40.

The lens L may be removably fitted into bezel 45 by a spring snap wire 46, suitable grooves 45a being provided for seating said wire 46 as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and '1. Other grooves similar to grooves 45a and parallelly spaced therefrom may be provided to accommodate lenses of differ-ent thickness or additional color screens in abutment with the lens (not shown) in the well understood manner.

For removably mounting the bezel 45 from the casing opening 40a, any suitable interlocking means may be provided, as for example, spaced slots 40h in casing 40 which permit free insertion of a spring member 41 and by rotating the bezel so that said spring member 41 engages the rim of the opening 40a. The bezel may be removably held in position as shown in Figs. l and 8.

The electric bulb B preferably may be of the concentrated filament type and is mounted to be connected in circuit with conductor wires W in a socket receptacle 50 which may also carry a suitable reflector R for projecting the light beams received thereon from the bulb B back through the lens L as is clear from Fig. 2. The socket receptacle 50 with bulb B are slidably mounted in the casing 40 on a cradle carrier 52 which is reciprocally guided by projecting ends 52a and 52h thereof along a long screw 53, said screw 53 being located in spaced paralled alignment with a distance adjusting feed screw 54 for controlling the socket receptacle 52 and bulb B for straight line movement to and away from the lens L.

The screw 53is inserted through a hole 40e in the rim of the casing opening 40a, in body section 42 and may be anchored in a threaded hole 40d of a boss 40e molded as lpart 0f the rear portion of the body`section 42, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6. The adjusting feed screw 54 passes through the lower lateral projection or male end stud 42h of the body section 42 and has a. rearward extending end 54a journalled in a bearing 40j in another boss 40g, preferably molded as part of said body section 42.

A collar 55 spaced from a knob head 55 retains said feed screw 54 in assembled position but permits rotation thereof for advancing or retracting a threaded rider 51 alongr said screw 54, said rider 51 being attached to move with the cradle carrier 52 with the socket receptacle 50 and bulb B as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The conductor wires W tmay pass through spaced passages 40h of the casing 40, said wires W being connected to terminals of the base of the bulb B in any conventional manner, as for example, shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Since the conductor wires W freely pass through the passage 40h, they do not interfere with the adjustment of the distance of the bulb B with respect to the lens L when the screw knob 55 of screw 54 is manipulated.

In practising the invention with the fixture or unit 20 the parts are made and assembled as described above and shown in the drawings, the unit 20 being positioned in a convenient location for use and conductor wires W connected to a suitable power source in the well understood manner (not shown). With the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 2 the optical system is vso arranged that the light beams produced by the bulb B and reflected will be projected through the lens L as a spot light.

To change the character of the lighting projected from the fixture or unit 20 from spot to flood lighting, all that is necessary is to Vary the optical system by rotating the screw knob 56 provided on the casing 20 just under the lens L until the carrier 5I with the socket receptacle 5D and bulb B are positioned closely to the lens L.

The light beam may be projected in various radial positions other than that shown by a simple universal swinging movement of the casing 40 of sliding and swivelling thereof on the base 30. The swivelling movement takes place by rotating the casing 40 with the upstanding member 34 with respect to the ring member 3l of the base 30. The sliding movement permits the casing to be moved in a curved path by means of the frictional engagement of the jaws or shoes 35 on the arcuate shaped tracks 4Ia and 42a. These movements permit the lens to be directed radially in any set vertical plane in which the casing 40 may be located by rotation by the swivelling movement provided in the base. Both the sliding and swivelling movements permit universal movement of the projected light beams in various selectively desired directions.

The bulb B may be inspected and replaced by removing the lens L and the bezel 54 from the opening 40a of the casing 40 to give access to the interior of the unit.

'Ihe tracks 4|a and 42a and separator 43 may extend about the easing 4|] and terminate just short of the casing opening 40a so that ventilation may be provided along and through such entire exterior side of the casing 40 between said tracks 4|a and 42a. through the passageways 43e, said passageways being tortuous, that is, zigzag. No light beams from the interior of the casing are visible on the exterior thereof.

While in the drawings and above description there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the casing 4U is formed of three main parts, namely, two body sections 4I and 42 and separator 43, a form that is believed to be economical to manufacture, it is to be understood that a casing construction with fewer main parts embodying the invention may be produced, if desired, by utilizing more expensivey molding apparatus than is necessary for the above disclosed form.

It will thus be seen that the lighting xture and unit construction as provided achieve the objects of the invention and rare well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use in an eilicient manner.

As various. embodiments might be made in the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a fixture construction of the character described, a casing comprising bowl-shaped body sections and an arcuate separator tted together to form a. globe with an opening, a lens seated in said opening, a light source enclosed in the globe located toproject light beams through the lens, and means supported on one of said sections for movably mounting said light toVary the character of the light projected from the lens.

2. In the fixture construction dei-ined in claim 1 in which tortuous passages are provided between said arcuate separator and body sections to provide Ventilating means between the interior o-f the globe and the exterior thereof.

3. In a fixture construction for housing a light, a casing of assembled parts forming a globe including bowl-shaped body sections, track portions extending about each body section, a louvre separator inserted between said track sections to provide Ventilating means for the light in the 

